National YBTC Challenge

2012 National You Be The Chemist Challenge

The National Challenge is the culmination of an exciting year of Local and State Challenge competitions that have taken place across the country. Approximately 12,000 grade 5-8 students will have participated in the competition with the winners from each participating state making the trip to Philadelphia, PA, to compete for the title of 2012 National You Be The Chemist (YBTC) Challenge Champion!

This year the National competition will take place on June 25, 2012 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, Challenge participants and attendees will tour historic sites and visit The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center. In addition, CEF will hold its 2nd Annual Challenge Celebration dinner for participants, family members, educators, sponsors, and industry members. The dinner will take place the night of the competition at the National Constitution Center and will include an award ceremony for the participants and live entertainment.

For more information about activity venues and competition details, browse the information below.


General Info Packet

2012 National Challenge Contact Information

YBTC Challenge and Celebration Dinner Registration (General Attendee) 

Registration (Participant & Guests) - forms will be sent to the participant via regular mail

T-Shirt Order Form 

National Challenge Rules

National Challenge Format

                    
History of National Challenge Champions

Congratulations to the 2011 National Challenge Participants!

CEF’s 2011 National You Be The Chemist Challenge was held on Monday, June 20 in Philadelphia, PA. Nineteen students from around the country battled through seven thrilling rounds of tough questioning on important chemistry concepts, scientific discoveries, and historical figures in chemistry. In the end it was Andrew Lingenfelter, an eighth grade student from Seneca Valley Middle School in Evans City, PA, who won the title of National Challenge Champion. Shivani Angappan of Bedford, MA; Haripriya Mehta of Des Plaines, IL; and Namita Nabar of Brea, CA placed second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The event, held at the National Constitution Center, was attended by almost 200 members of the chemical industry, educators, and participant family members. Each of the participants received a variety of fun Challenge memorabilia including T-shirts, back packs, water bottles, Thames & Kosmos CHEM C3000 chemistry sets, and gift cards to the Discovery Channel Store. Additionally, the top four placing participants received scholarships for future educational use.

Participants of the 2011 National You Be The Chemist Challenge:

Shivani, Massachusetts; Tate, Oklahoma; Colter, Utah; Jonathan, South Carolina; Matthew, New Jersey; Caitlin, Kentucky; Khai, Texas; Lexi, North Carolina; Andrew, Pennsylvania; Earth, Ohio; Haripriya, Illinois; Namita, California; Maggie, Connecticut; Joshen, Michigan; Vishal, District of Columbia; Nirmaan, Virginia; Paloma, Maryland; Heidi, Wisconsin; and Thuc, Louisiana

Throughout the three-day event, participants, family members, and educators attend activities around the city, such as a tour of the Chemical Heritage Foundation and a breakfast and planetarium show at The Franklin Institute, followed by an afternoon of exploration throughout the museum’s exhibits. The National Challenge and all of its associated events are organized by CEF and sponsored by various companies and organizations. They include:

Gold Sponsors: Arch Chemicals, Inc.; Brenntag North America, Inc.; The Dow Chemical Company Foundation; ICL Performance Products LP; PVS-Nolwood Chemicals, Inc.; Shell Chemical Company; and Univar Silver Sponsors: National Association of Chemical Distributors; Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates; and Thames & Kosmos Bronze Sponsors: BASF Corporation; Expo Chemical Company, Inc.; PQ Corporation; Turning Technologies LLC

 A Night of Science Celebration!

In addition to the events surrounding the competition, Challenge participants, family members, and educators mingled with members of the chemical industry during a celebration dinner held immediately following the crowning of the National Challenge Champion, Andrew Lingenfelter.

The dinner was held at The Franklin Institute and celebrated the accomplishments of the Challenge participants and 2011 being named the International Year of Chemistry! Attendees mingled during a reception in the museum’s exhibit hall and then enjoyed dinner and a lively interactive chemistry show in Franklin Hall. The night also included an award ceremony for the participants. Winner, Andrew, took the podium as he accepted his $5,000 scholarship, describing the entire experience as “awesome” and congratulating his fellow participants on all of the effort they put into preparing for the competition.

CEF’s National Challenge and International Year of Chemistry Celebration Dinner was sponsored by Brenntag North America, Inc.; The Dow Chemical Company Foundation; ICL Performance Products LP; PVS-Nolwood Chemicals, Inc.; Shell Chemical Company; and Univar.

   
To read about the excitement of previous National Challenges, follow the link to the Past Challenges page.

         
*Philadelphia photos by Mark James, Anthony Sinagoga, and Scott Frances Ltd.